Jason’s relishing Kelty move after Arbroath exit
LAUGHS with Dick Campbell, a title success and an unlikely Premiership promotion challenge gave Jason Thomson four memorable years with Arbroath.
But Kelty Hearts’ latest signing believes that the time was right for a fresh challenge – and is confident he’s found a club that will provide the ideal fit.
The 35-year-old, who had a short spell on loan with the Pars during the 2011/12 season, departed the Championship Red Lichties on Friday before signing on at New Central Park, and was pitched in immediately for his debut against Falkirk on Saturday.
A 2-0 win – his new club’s first of the League One season – gave Thomson the perfect start and, although he acknowledged there was plenty of surprise at his Gayfield exit, the former Heart of Midlothian and Raith Rovers full back said: “You know, I’d been at a place for a period of time, which I had been for four, five years, and it just felt like I wanted something fresh.
“I sat down, spoke to the manager, had an honest conversation, and we agreed it would be best if I moved on.
“I got a lot of phone calls and texts to ask why I’d left. There was nothing in it; I just wanted to go and get freshened up and get a fresh start. Hopefully, it works out for both parties.
“It was great. I loved my time (at Arbroath); I would never shy away from that. I absolutely loved it up there. We won League One, we stayed in the Championship, and we just missed out on getting promoted last year.
“That’s in the past now, and I’m looking forward to getting in to Kelty, and getting them up the league.”
Thomson, who lives in Crossgates, was a key part of Arbroath’s stunning campaign last term, in which they only missed out on the title to Kilmarnock on the penultimate day of the season.
A comeback win for the Ayrshire side against the Red Lichties gave them the trophy and promotion instead, before Thomson, who played 27 times during the campaign, of which 23 were starts, and his team-mates lost out in the Premiership play-offs to Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
“It was brilliant,” he reflected.
“I can’t speak highly enough of the manager and the team he’s got there. It was four years I was there; you laughed, you had a great time, and everything was great. We were very unlucky, but there comes a time when everyone moves on. It’s the same here; there will be folk who move on. It happens throughout football.
“It’s nothing new. I’ve actually never moved that much. I’ve only played for a handful of teams if you like, so I’ve not moved about an awful lot but Kelty’s a good fit.
“I spoke to the manager, liked what he had to say, and I’m local as well, so that’s always a wee bonus. It just ticked a few boxes and we got the deal done.
“I’m not actually from Fife but I’ve stayed here for six years, seven years. Where the club’s been from then and where they are now, you can’t not get sight of it if you live near. I only just live in Crossgates, so it’s obviously well talked about.
“You always have a wee eye, you always have a wee interest, I’ve come up to a few games.”
The move will see Thomson link up with Potter and Joe Cardle, who were both at Dunfermline during his spell there, and Dougie Hill, who he turned out alongside for Raith, as did Cardle.
“I’ve played against most of the boys as well in the team. It wasn’t as if I was coming to a dressing room where I didn’t know anyone,” he continued.
“Dougie was there, Joe’s there, and I’ve played against the likes of Higgy (Kallum Higginbotham) and (Michael) Tidser many times before. I played with Deej (Darren Jamieson) as well at Arbroath – we can’t forget about Deej, can we? It’s been good.”
On the field, Thomson, who hadn’t trained with his new team-mates before Saturday’s match, hopes that the victory over the Bairns can be the catalyst for a run of positive results.
“The boys dug in well, we go and win 2-0, and I thought we thoroughly deserved to win,” he added.
“I don’t think they created too many chances that you would think that they could’ve got themselves back into the game, or got a draw or won the game. I think we were fully deserving of the win.
“The boys here have been digging deep and maybe not just getting the rub of the green. It’s good to come in, get my debut and get a win. It’s a good start.
“That was a bit of the chat after the game, that this is the start of it. I think we’ve got another home game next week, so we’ll look to go and build.
“We’ll go and get a good week’s training in and we’ll take the next game as it comes.”